Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
de la Fontaine, walk to the right for about 10 minutes and look for colored tables in an
alleyway; tel.0490544073).
La Place
isagoodchoiceforarealrestaurant (
menus
from
€24-37, closed Wed, indoor seating only, 65 Avenue de la Vallée des Baux, tel. 04 90 54
23 31).
Orange, called
Arausio
in Roman times, is notable for its Roman arch and grand Roman
Theater. Orange was a thriving city in ancient times—strategically situated on the Via
Agrippa, connecting the important Roman cities of Lyon and Arles. It was actually foun-
ded as a comfortable place for Roman army officers to enjoy their retirement. Even in Ro-
man times, professional military men retired with time for a second career. Did the emper-
or want thousands of well-trained, relatively young guys hanging around Rome? No way.
What to do? “How about a nice place in the south of France...?”
Today's Orange (oh-rahnzh) is a busy, workaday city with considerably less charm
than smaller towns I describe, and little urban energy compared to other cities I list. Still,
it works as a base for some non-drivers, thanks to its quick rail link to Avignon and just
enough bus service to wine villages of the Côtes du Rhône.
Tourist Information
TheunnecessaryTIislocatednexttothefountainandparkingareaat5CoursAristideBri-
and (April-Sept Mon-Sat 9:00-18:30, Sun 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-18:30; Oct-March Mon-
Sat 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00, closed Sun; tel. 04 90 34 70 88,
www.otorange.fr
)
.
Arrival in Orange
By Train:
Orange's
train station
is a level 20-minute walk from the Roman Theater (or
an€8taxiride,mobile0609513225).TherecommendedHôteldeProvence,acrossfrom
the station, will keep your bags (see “Sleeping in Orange,” later). To walk into town from
the train station, head straight out of the station (down Avenue Frédéric Mistral), merge
left onto Orange's main shopping street (Rue de la République), then turn left on Rue Car-
istie; you'll run into the Roman Theater's massive stage wall.
By Bus:
Lieutaud buses stop at the train station (Gare SNCF) and at Place Pour-
toules, two blocks from the Roman Theater (walk to the hill and turn right to reach the
theater, bus station tel. 04 90 34 15 59,
www.cars-lieutaud.fr/provence/en/regular-lines
)
.
